ACTIVITIES
Through our Activities Programme, our students have the opportunity to learn new skills, socialise with other students and, most importantly, have fun. We encourage our students to try new activities, to help them broaden their horizons, so that they can meet the challenges of the wider world. The extensive range of clubs we offer at Rossall include: Debating Club, Robotic, Creative Writing, Choir, International Cookery, Hockey, Photoshop and Creative Graphics, Knitting, Rugby, Basketball and Orchestra. The majority of these clubs are free and run by our teaching staff, although some do incur a small charge and are run by external providers.
Please note, this booklet highlights a selection of activities available at Rossall School and is not a comprehensive list. Some activities are subject to change on a termly basis.
SPORTS CLUBS We are proud to have such a wide selection of sports on offer at Rossall, and our excellent facilities can accommodate multiple sports simultaneously. From our 25 metre indoor-heated swimming pool, to our Golf Academy and state-of-the-art Sports Centre, we are constantly improving and investing in our sports.
SWIMMING
We are very pleased to have our own 25 metre heated indoor swimming pool at Rossall. It is used widely by the School for beginners, more advanced swimmers and swim squad alike, and is the ideal place to perfect your backstroke and butterfly.
BASKETBALL
Coached by a keen basketball player from the PE staff, the U18 Boys’ Team have seen great success over the past few years, including being placed runnersup in the Lancashire Schools County Basketball Cup.
FOOTBALL
We are privileged to have Fleetwood Town Football Club on our doorstep and enjoy close links with them. A FTFC coach runs the activity and provides professional training, supported by the PE staff.
BOYS’ HOCKEY
GIRLS’ HOCKEY
CRICKET
FITNESS
At Rossall, we excel at hockey. Our boys’ Under 18 Team are 3x Indoor North of England Champions and regularly reach the late stages of the England Hockey Cup.
Rossall has played the traditional British sport of cricket for over a century. Pupils from the Junior School through to Sixth Form can take part in ageappropriate sessions and matches in the Summer Term. In August, alumni and students take part in an annual cricket tour, playing matches at notable grounds across the country.
Like our boys’ teams, girls’ hockey is a force to be reckoned with and our 1st XI Team regularly reach the North Indoor Finals. The club benefits from expert coaching, supported by the PE staff.
Fitness sessions take place in our purpose-built gym and sports centre. Sessions can be used to improve and maintain good physical health, or utilised to train for competition sports with the support of our Director of Elite Performance. Additional fitness activities such as yoga and zumba are often available.
FIVES
As well as our wide range of well-known sports, we also play some less well known and quirkily British, sports, such as Fives. Fives, a handball game similar to squash, played on one of our 8 enclosed courts.
GOLF ACADEMY The Rossall Golf Academy was launched in September 2016. The Rossall Golf Academy boasts an indoor golf studio, equipped with the latest video analysis equipment and GC2 launch monitor, putting lab and swing room. We are also able to make use of our extensive outdoor space, and, off campus, we are fortunate to be surrounded by world class golf courses that have staged some of the world’s most prestigious professional and amateur events.
For more information please contact s.hemmings@rossall.org.uk
DUKE OF EDINBURGH The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a fantastic scheme which allows young people to challenge themselves and learn new skills through planning and training for a series of walking expeditions. In addition, students must also learn a new skill and undertake some voluntary work to achieve the award.
For more information please contact l.magowan@rossall.org.uk
CHARITY SUPPORT & VOLUNTEERING Throughout the year, we support a wide range of charities as a School. Often we respond to a charity that has a particular significance to us as a school and at other times we respond to disasters or issues which are occurring at a national or global level. We are also keen to connect with our local community and a significant number of students give their time generously as volunteers, sometimes on a one-off basis such as the annual Beach Clean, but more often on a regular basis, for example volunteering in a charity shop or in a local drop-in centre.
WORLD CHALLENGE
The World Challenge Expedition is offered to students in the Sixth Form and for those who take part, it can be a lifechanging experience. The expedition to a remote part of the world lasts for one month. In 2014 a group of Rossall students travelled to Vietnam and Cambodia in South East Asia. In 2018, students explored the India Himalayan Region. Three weeks of arduous trekking are followed by a social project and a short period of rest and relaxation before the journey home. The World Challenge Expedition is not for the faint-hearted, not least because each individual student pledges to raise the cost of the trip themselves, but the experience is incredible and hugely rewarding.
For more information please contact m.bradley@rossall.org.uk
DRAMA
Drama is flourishing at Rossall! In the Senior School, there are regular drama productions which have recently included the beloved musical ‘Les Misérables’, Disney classic ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and theatre staple ‘Blood Brothers’ by Willy Russell. There is ample opportunity for students to get involved both on the stage and behind the scenes.
ARTS
ART CLUB
A chance to work on skills and try out new techniques and media.
PHOTOSHOP CLUB Manipulation of images using Photoshop in an artistic and creative way to create fantastic results.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Improve your skills and build upon your coursework research.
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
Develop skills in drawing, physical modelling, CAD modelling, CAM operation and other skills linked to the subject area.
ADVANCED CADET TRAINING Cadets are able to progress through the ranks, beginning as an NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) and leading up to the Junior Cadet course and Colour Party training. Where possible extra sessions are provided to Cadets who request additional training.
SMALL
BORE TARGET
SHOOTING Small Bore Target Shooting covers the safe handling of weapons, and marksmanship principles. Practice periods allow cadets to work towards their weapon handling test with either the Scorpion Air Rifle or No8 rifle. Cadets can progress onto Full Bore Target Shooting, starting with the L98 A2 Rifle, Light Support Weapon and the Cadet Target Rifle.
INTERNATIONAL COOKERY CLUB Students are able to explore and create a new element of international cuisine each week.
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS USING GMC DIRECTIVE ON ‘TOMORROW’S DOCTORS’ WEEKLY DISCUSSIONS ON CURRENT MEDICAL ISSUES
MEDSOC is open to students in Years 11 to 13 wishing to pursue careers in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Studies, Nursing, and Biomedical Studies.
UNIVERSITY PREP: UKCAT, BMAT
UNIVERSITY VISITS CONFERENCES
ETHICS DEBATES
OUTSIDE SPEAKERS
ADVANCED PSYCHOLOGY
Advanced Psychology is a chance for budding Psychologists to go beyond the curriculum and explore the subject in greater detail. It will benefit students who wish to study this popular subject at university level.
BEGINNER’S ITALIAN This is an informal fun activity where you will learn some basic phrases and vocabulary to help you communicate when you go on holiday to Italy. There will not be much grammar unless you really want it. Suitable for all ages from Year 7 upwards.
MODEL UNITED NATIONS
The Model United Nations society gives Rossallians the opportunity to learn more about the world and each other. Essentially, students imagine themselves in the role of UN ambassadors, representing a country at a UN meeting. Debate is a vital part of M.U.N, along with teamwork and negotiation.
BRITISH PHYSICS OLYMPIAD The British Physics Olympiad activity is for students in Year 11 and Sixth Form who are interested in using physics concepts to solve harder problems in unfamiliar situations. British Physics Olympiad is challenging, however, it is great practice for further studies, useful for scholarship exams and shows universities that you have a real interest in physics.
SPEAKER SERIES As part of our enrichment programme and commitment to expanding horizons, we run a varied and engaging series of lectures, talks and presentations throughout the year. The Speaker Series programme is an excellent way to bring diverse and sometimes controversial views to our students and dovetails very well with our commitment to Thinking Skills, challenging opinion and multiple intelligence. Recent speakers have included the renowned British author Nick Hornby, author and illustrator Jamie Littler, Photo-Journalist Jeremy Hunter, and retired racing driver Brian Redman. The Speaker Series is accessible to all of our students and is an added stimulus to our most able students, including those aspiring to the very top universities worldwide such as Oxbridge or Ivy League universities. Parents, staff and members of the wider Rossall community are also regularly invited to many of the Speaker Series events.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS The Astronomy & Astrophysics Club is open to all year groups. The younger members will be looking at the planets and stars and other objects in our universe, later moving on to look at the Science that enables us to study the Universe and what we have discovered. Older pupils willing to take on a challenge will prepare for the Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad competitions that take place each year. The club will take place in the Astronomy Centre, with the expertise of our Astronomerin-residence Dr Nick Lister to help and advise. There will be opportunities to use the Planetarium, and hopefully, the Rossall Telescope.
For more information please contact nick@astronomyforall.co.uk
CHAPEL CHOIR
Our award-winning choir have performed all over the world - from Westminster Abbey to Dallas, Texas, and of course our very own Chapel! The Choir performs every Friday at Morning Mass, as well as externally for weddings and Evensong.
FARRELL SOCIETY
The Farrell Society is a literary society for Year 11 and Sixth Form. The society have regular events based on literary themes and often go to the theatre, or have visiting speakers.
MUSIC
A range of music activities are available for differing levels of players. From section specific groups, such as Wind Band, to whole ensemble groups, such as the Salon Orchestra. There is something for everyone.
DEBATING CLUB
The Debating Club is the place to argue and form opinions about a variety of topics and motions. Students will gain public speaking skills and confidence through this exciting platform.
ROBOTICS
Open to pupils in Year 7 to 10, pupils will be looking at designing, building and programming robots to perform specific tasks. With advances always being made in robotics, there may also be opportunities to compete in competitions.
CHESS CLUB
MICRO FINANCE PROJECT
Chess has many benefitting qualities; it develops memory, improves concentration, develops logical thinking and promotes imagination and creativity. It also allows our pupils to challenge their minds in a social game with friends.
A group of students will meet on a weekly basis to look at projects in poor areas of the world. Every week, the group will choose one person or project to lend money to (typically ÂŁ15.00 - ÂŁ30.00) to help them transform their lives: perhaps a fish farmer in Cambodia, a beautician in Togo or a tomato grower in Ecuador. The loans are repaid and the group can then choose another project to invest in. Pupils will not be expected to finance this project (unless they wish to).
OTHER ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE INCLUDE*: Additional Maths Book Club Classics Society Coding Cookery Club Creative Writing Cricket Dance French Club Knitting Mandarin Club Maths Fun Board Games Micro Finance Project
Middle Distance Running Netball OxBridge Entrance Test Training Rock Band Rounders Rugby Scrabble Soton Cipher Club Student Investor Challenge War Hammer Wind Band Yoga
Please note, this booklet highlights a selection of activities available at Rossall School and is not a comprehensive list. Some activities are subject to change on a termly basis.
Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 8JW
Telephone 01253 774201 Email admissions@rossall.org.uk
www.rossall.org.uk RS.01